(Eurasian) Tree Sparrow

Males and females are alike and have a chocolate brown crown and white neck band or
collar. Their
white cheeks have a black smudge and they have a small neat black bib.
The back and wings are a mixture of warm shades of brown and the
underparts are pale grey-brown. The black bill is small with a yellow base.
The legs are pale brown.

Juveniles are similar to adults but duller.

In flight, the Tree Sparrow has two white wing bars whereas the House
Sparrow has only one.

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Scientific Name

Passer montanus

Length

14 cm (5½")

Wing Span

20-22 cm (8-9")

Weight

19-25 g (¾ oz)

Breeding Pairs

100000

Present

All Year

Status

Red

Voice

The Tree Sparrow has a song similar to the House
Sparrow but it is a bit more cheerful.

Feeding

The Tree Sparrow lives in open woodland, orchards and hedgerows and so
feeds mostly on seeds of grasses, weeds and cereals, such as barley and
wheat. They also feed on insects, like aphids, caterpillars, flies and beetles.

They will visit bird tables for
seed.

Nesting

A pair of Tree Sparrows will mate for life.

The Tree Sparrows' nest is made from twigs and leaves and lined with down,
moss and hair, built by both birds in a hole in a tree, cliff, or building, or use a nest box. The nest
may be a domed structure or a simple cup.

The eggs are about 19 mm by 14 mm. They are smooth and glossy, and white to
pale grey with dark brown markings. Both adult birds share the duty of
incubating the eggs as well as feeding the altricial young once they have
hatched.

Breeding Starts

Clutches

Eggs

Incubation (days)

Fledge (days)

April

2-3

2-9

11-14

12-14

Movements

Juveniles disperse from their natal sites but otherwise they are sedentary.
Some continental birds winter in Britain.

Conservation

The breeding population has declined by more than 50% in recent times
and so the Tree Sparrow appears on the Red List of birds of high conservation concern.